FARMINGTON – A Carthage man was sentenced to a five-year, partially-suspended sentence in Franklin County Superior Court Monday, pleading guilty for his role in what law enforcement believes was a heroin distribution network that encompassed multiple members of one family.
Anthony Smith, 31 of Carthage, pleaded guilty to unlawful trafficking of a scheduled drug, a Class B felony, as part of an arranged plea that included having charges of criminal conspiracy, falsifying evidence and misdemeanor possession dismissed. He also pleaded guilty to violating the conditions of his release, relating to phone contact Smith had with his brother, Jonathan Smith, 28 of Mexico. Jonathan Smith is facing drug-related charges out of Oxford County.
Police executed a search warrant at two residences in Carthage on July 30, 2015, including those of Anthony Smith and father Russell Smith, 52. In Anthony Smith’s residence, police seized heroin, cash and paraphernalia associated with drug trafficking, including digital scales, needles and packaging. According to court documents, police also obtained cell phone text messages that referred to a heroin trafficking operation.
Smith was sentenced to five years, with all but one year suspended and two years of probation on the trafficking conviction, as well as a $400 fine. He was sentenced to 10 months on the violating conditions of release charge, with that sentence to be served concurrent to the five-year sentence. Conditions of his release include no use or possession of illegal drugs, with random search and test for same.
Smith also admitted to a criminal forfeiture relating to the cash seized at his house, resulting in the state claiming $1,940.
Russell Smith has been indicted on charges of trafficking, unlawful possession and criminal conspiracy. His case has not been resolved.
If I said what I really feel about this sentence, you wouldn’t print it. I will say a 10 month vacation for this sad boy is not nearly enough. This story is sadly, far from over. I wish it were different.
Seriously,
How about throw the GD book at them all. Oh wait, Narcan first.
It angers me that this issue is not taken seriously enough. So this person gets to go to prison for one year & ten months which we will pay for as taxpayers, then what…come out & start selling heroin AGAIN. Afterall, he’ll need some sort of income. What a joke. Get real & START DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.
If I read the article correctly he will actually serve 12 months…now I feel better … not! We need to find a better way to end this awful epidemic!